Yue Yun said in amazement, "Reporting to the Marshal, apart from ten thousand old soldiers over forty-five years of age who requested retirement, all other officers and men wish to continue serving the country and repay the nation's kindness!"
Liang Xiao was stunned, then chuckled.
Counting the five thousand old soldiers in Xichuan who requested retirement, a total of 125,000 of the original troops in Xichuan were willing to continue serving in the army!
"However, Xichuan will also have the support of officers and men from the Northern Frontier and Jiangnan, so so many troops are no longer needed. Many families also need to cultivate the land that has been allocated to them. From the remaining officers and men, select eighty thousand to garrison various regions. The rest will be given ample travel expenses and sent home after the court's reward and land distribution."
Yue Yun took Liang Xiao's orders back to Hanzhong to inform them.
Another day passed, and detailed household registration information finally arrived from various regions.
The population of the Xichuan region totaled 4.6 million, and the confiscated land from landlords and powerful families in Xichuan amounted to 35 million mu!
After deducting the extra land allocated to surrendered soldiers, each commoner in Xichuan could receive six mu of land!
When the news spread, the commoners in all parts of Xichuan were ecstatic!
Are they really going to distribute land to us?!
Calculated based on an average family of five, each household could receive about thirty mu of land, and if they also participated in the government-arranged agricultural reclamation, they could live a good life!
The Great Gan Kingdom also planned to promote the "Tanding Rumu" (a tax reform policy) throughout Yizhou, but the court had specially granted Xichuan a three-year exemption from land tax, which was enough for the Xichuan people to escape their current plight of widespread hardship.
The people of Xichuan were deeply grateful to Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing, burning incense and praying to heaven for their long life.
Liang Xiao personally stationed himself in Fucheng to supervise the distribution of land in various regions, strictly ordering: "Officials who steal the people's land or distribute it carelessly will be dismissed and imprisoned for serious offenses, or even executed for severe ones!"
The officials in various regions dared not delay. Under the supervision of the Northern Frontier troops, they cautiously distributed the land, fearing any oversight.
The Xichuan people who had fled to various regions also received the news and rushed back to Xichuan from all corners of the country, hoping to live a life they had dreamed of in their homeland.
The people in other regions also received news of the land distribution in Xichuan. After a period of envy and jealousy, they came to terms with it through the persuasion of their companions and expressed their support.
The Xichuan people had suffered for hundreds of years and were all impoverished, not even having land to cultivate. They had also assisted the Great Gan troops in pacifying Xichuan and offered Jincheng, so it was necessary to distribute land.
It is not poverty but inequality that is feared. The land distribution finally stabilized without causing major unrest across the country.
The Great Gan Kingdom abandoned its expedition to the border barbarians and stationed a large number of troops throughout the country to ensure that local landlords and powerful families did not dare to rebel.
Li Xiuyun, after receiving the urgent imperial edict, also rushed to Xichuan with the official seal of the Prefect of Yizhou.
The people at the Chess Saint's Chess Hall in Liang Kingdom, upon receiving the news, could not help but sigh deeply.
"Disciple, how can mere chess compare to that man who is destined to be immortalized through the ages."
A sigh came from behind the screen.
Zhuo Yun's face turned red, and she was speechless.
Zuo Qing glanced at Zhuo Yun beside her and remained silent.
She was not a jealous woman, but the second Miss Zhuo before her had become obsessed with chess and was too spirited.
Zuo Qing certainly did not want to persuade Zhuo Yun to return, lest she cause more trouble for Liang Xiao and the sisters.
Yue Wenxin murmured to herself, "Will that Marquis An Guo visit Liang?"
Zuo Qing was startled and quietly observed her half-sister.
After a year of separation, Yue Wenxin, who used to be timid and submissive to her father, enduring beatings and scoldings, had undergone a great change in temperament. When she had a sword in her hand, she could even chase Zuo Wuji through the streets.
Since then, Yue Wenxin, who did not draw her sword, had become unrestrained in her speech, even daring to confront the Emperor of Liang.
Even expressing her admiration for Liang Xiao and the "Great General of Gan" was just casual talk, meant for amusement. This was the first time she had spoken such a thought earnestly to herself.
That man, separated by thousands of miles, had already made the entire Liang Kingdom curious.
Some looked forward to him with reverence, while others feared him and spoke of him in hushed tones.
And the Emperor of Liang waited day and night for Liang Xiao...
The land distribution proceeded in an orderly manner, with no major disturbances in various regions.
The Xichuan troops, along with some Northern Frontier soldiers who chose to remain, focused on guarding the southern part of Sichuan, strictly guarding against the invasion of southern barbarians.
At this time, the barbarians in the southern regions like Nanzhong were all in a state of panic and did not dare to approach southern Sichuan.
"Is that Marquis An Guo of Great Gan so formidable? Not only did he behead over 500,000 barbarians, but he also swept through a treacherous place like Xichuan with such overwhelming force..."
"I heard there was also a Nan Jiyun who infiltrated Yinping and actually captured Fucheng, accelerating the demise of the Helian family..."
In all parts of Nanzhong, discussions about Xichuan and Liang Xiao were rampant.
"Should we pledge allegiance to Xichuan?"
The officials in the palace were in heated debate.
On the high throne, the white-haired Queen of the Southern Barbarians' gaze turned cold, emanating killing intent.
"Nanzhong is a barren land, and conquering it is of no benefit. Anyone who speaks of allegiance will be taken out and executed as a warning!"
The barbarians of Nanzhong ultimately abandoned the idea of pledging allegiance to Great Gan, but they also did not dare to raid the border of Yizhou again, for fear that the Xichuan soldiers would descend like divine soldiers.
On this day, Nan Jiyun, Liu Fan, and others all rushed to Fucheng to pay their respects to Liang Xiao.
"The situation is settled, and the military power is firmly in hand. Yizhou will be entrusted to all of you and the incoming Prefect Li. I hope you will work together with one heart to make Xichuan a true land of abundance." Liang Xiao said earnestly.
Most of the troops from the Northern Frontier and Jiangnan had to return to their respective regions to continue training.
After all, transporting grain from Shu Road was very difficult, and they could not continue to rely on the local military rations in Xichuan.
Nan Jiyun solemnly agreed and then asked, "If the southern barbarians do not pledge allegiance, what should we do?"
Liang Xiao said, "You, Prefect Li, and General Liu should discuss it. If all three of you are certain that Nanzhong can be conquered, then go ahead with the expedition. However, remember that Nanzhong is hot and humid, so do not send troops in spring or summer. If you must, choose early autumn."
The two nodded solemnly, keeping his words in mind.
The people of Xichuan, having received official relief, also began to focus on farming.
Each household responded to Liang Xiao's call, leaving one-third of their farmland. The new crop seedlings and seeds that were about to be sent to various parts of Yizhou could be promoted and planted, especially sweet potatoes.
Zhuo Ying led seventy thousand Jiangnan troops downstream along the Yangtze River, preparing to return to Jiangnan.
Shi Liuyun, as a descendant of the Shi clan whose ancestral home was Xichuan, led thirty thousand troops to assist in the defense of Yizhou. He also intended to establish his roots here again, bringing his wife and children from Jiangnan, and wrote a heartfelt thank-you letter to Gongsun Ye, entrusting Zhuo Ying to deliver it, thanking Gongsun Ye for his years of teaching and cultivation.
Liang Xiao also prepared to lead ninety thousand Northern Frontier soldiers back to the Northern Frontier, leaving only twenty thousand to assist in the defense of Xichuan.
Adding the eighty thousand selected Xichuan soldiers, Xichuan would have 130,000 defending troops and over 40,000 retired reserve personnel. With the terrain of Xichuan, it was enough to defend itself.
The day before Liang Xiao and Zhuo Ying were about to lead their troops back, the imperial edict from the court was finally delivered urgently.